Vitamin B 12 Status of Pregnant Indian Women and Cognitive Function in their 9-year-old Children

Abstract

Background

Recent research has highlighted the influence of maternal factors on the health of the offspring. Intrauterine experiences may program metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychiatric disorders. We have shown that maternal vitamin B₁₂ status affects adiposity and insulin resistance in the child. Vitamin B₁₂ is important for brain development and function.

Objective

We investigated the relationship between maternal plasma vitamin B₁₂ status during pregnancy and the child's cognitive function at 9 years of age.

Methods

We studied children born in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study. Two groups of children were selected on the basis of maternal plasma vitamin B₁₂ concentration at 28 weeks of gestation: group 1 (n = 49) included children of mothers with low plasma vitamin B₁₂ (lowest decile, < 77 pM) and group 2 (n = 59) children of mothers with high plasma vitamin B₁₂ (highest decile, > 224 pM).

Results

Children from group 1 performed more slowly than those from group 2 on the Color Trail A test (sustained attention, 182 vs. 159 seconds; p < .05) and the Digit Span Backward test (short-term memory, p <.05), after appropriate adjustment for confounders. There were no differences between group 1 and group 2 on other tests of cognitive function (intelligence, visual agnosia).

Conclusions

Maternal vitamin B₁₂ status in pregnancy influences cognitive function in offspring.

Keywords

offspring cognitive function short-term memory sustained attention

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